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Continuing Research by PhD Graduates
Author(s) -
Bazeley Pat
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
higher education quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.976
H-Index - 42
eISSN - 1468-2273
pISSN - 0951-5224
DOI - 10.1111/1468-2273.00135
Subject(s) - workforce , medical education , continuing education , psychology , work (physics) , postgraduate research , career development , political science , medicine , mechanical engineering , law , engineering
A survey of Australian PhD graduates has revealed that they do not necessarily fit traditional stereotypes in terms of age, previous or concurrent work experience nor, perhaps most importantly, a prospective career in research. Two years after graduating with PhD, just 36 per cent of those who found employment in the non‐academic workforce continued to be ‘xtensively’ involved in research, while only 56 per cent of those in academic employment (other than those with postdoctoral fellowships) were so involved. Many of those trained in research are frustrated in not being able to implement and extend that training through appropriate employment, others who have the opportunity do not have the desire. Factors predictive of and related to continuing involvement in research are examined, with some surprising results and policy implications regarding postgraduate research degrees.